Should I get prosthetics?

[u/Pack-Rare]

So I got a bilateral orchiectomy, and take my TRT and I healed from my orchiectomy very quickly and well, in about 1 week I was good and the incision healed up in 2 weeks with no visible scar.

I didn’t get prosthetics because i didn’t want them to get in the way of my healing, now I’m wondering if I should get prosthetics because things look empty down there and I’m not sure how it’s going to be when I’m being intimate with someone.

I would need 2 testicular prosthetics

Has anyone had prosthetics, how do they feel? How are they? Is it an unnatural feeling?

[u/moxiedoggie]

I got a prosthetic, I kinda regret it. It just feels dumb. Like who am I trying to impress with my fake ball? Doesn’t feel real, and I worry about some complication with it years from now

[u/IAmGerm → u/moxiedoggie]

The small chance of complications in the future was a big enough reason for me to say no to getting the prosthetic.

[u/b0mbaywala → u/moxiedoggie]

For the same reason I didn't get one. Even though one of the urologists at a reputable hospital chain almost convinced me to get one. And then I spoke to my primary doc and he asked me this question - would it matter to someone who cares for you? You ain't gonna flaunt it to anyone anyway. Plus the recovery needed post surgery.

[u/Crane_1989]

I got a lefty prosthetic and I don't regret it. It doesn't feel identical to the real thing, but it's pretty similar, and I think I would feel worse without it.

[u/Pack-Rare → u/Crane_1989]

My thing is that I need 2 and not just one. You think if you had 2 it would feel strange? Just curious.

[u/Crane_1989 → u/Pack-Rare]

I would feel stranger without anything.

I know it's kind of a non-answer, but this is mostly an issue of checking within yourself what makes more sense to you in a very subjective manner. 

The question to asl yourself is: "Will I feel worse with an empty scrotum or with a scrotum with prosthetics that will look very good but not perfect?" There's no clear right or wrong answer here, just a  truth you reach in a very intuitive way.

To me, I was already feeling even before surgery that my potential discomfort with only one visible testicle would be too much, verging on gender dysphoria even, so when my urologist proposed a prosthetic, I accepted. But that was me, you have to find that answer yourself. 

I hope the choice you make is the one that better serves your needs and makes you feel the best version of yourself.

[u/IAmGerm]

I chose not to get a prosthetic when righty got removed and have 0 regrets. A bit different since you need two and I’m not sure what the optics look like down there for you. Do you really want to undergo another surgery? What is the financial cost? Would a women even care that you don’t have testicles? What benefits does it bring and does it outweigh the cons?

[u/Pack-Rare → u/IAmGerm]

Yeah I won’t lie the thought of another surgery is kinda what’s making me think against it, cause I healed very well, like as if my body wanted my testes gone or something lol. Just not entirely sure how I feel about having no balls for life is all I guess.🤔

[u/IAmGerm → u/Pack-Rare]

Not having another surgery was another factor in me opting out of getting them in the first place. I read stories of things going wrong and then needing to have them removed, adding in a chance of another surgery. And at that point in time I was extra cautious.

But Id be willing to bet you will get used to the feeling over time. I understand being a bit subconscious about it but lucky for us it’s not obvious to many, other than ourselves and who we decide to be intimate with.

[u/ESC_Branflakes]

I didn’t get a prosthetic. Tbh, I don’t really worry about how things look down there, and I felt like a prosthetic would bug me more physically than just leaving things as is post surgery. I don’t regret it. I also don’t blame anyone who does get a prosthetic. To each their own!

[u/barr65]

I got one because I thought it would feel weird with only one ball

[u/Kooky_Constant_7227]

I had a single prosthesis for the testicle I had removed. I debated it and decided that I would go for it at the same time as my unilateral orchidectomy. In your situation I would have definitely chosen to have 2 put in. Good luck with your decision

[u/Successful-Part-5867]

I had two for 20 years…and then the warranty must’ve expired! They can and do occasionally fail. They were removed and insurance considered new ones cosmetic! So I went without. Honestly, on the intimacy thing…they really don’t care.

[u/FuckinHighGuy]

I got one. I prefer not to have half of my sack flat and wrinkled. So far it feels fine!

[u/JasonInNJ]

I had a left orchiectomy about 20 years ago. My doctor mentioned an implant could sometimes get in the way of imaging, and honestly I didn’t care either way, so I never bothered. I run a lot and had read that implants can sometimes be a literal pain for joggers, so skipping it made sense for me.

The good thing is, there’s no rush. You don’t have to decide right away. It's not risky to wait. I remember a guy on the old TC-NET listserv who had a bilateral orchiectomy and chose to get just one implant. That way it didn’t look or feel totally empty, but he also wasn’t pushing for a full “reconstruction.”

[u/mbk2401]

Honestly, I don’t really get the idea of prosthetics. I had one of my testicles removed, and it would feel weird to me to have a fake one put in as a replacement. Of course there is a difference between having one removed and having both removed, and I get that for some it’s a mental game.

No one will probably see it other than your partner and a few people in dressing rooms from time to time - do you think any of them care? Probably not.

If you feel very uncomfortable of rolling without anything in the sack, go ahead and do it. But if you’re in doubt, I would try to turn it to something positive and go for the ‘freedom’ an empty sack provides 😅.

Just my thoughts. I hope you find a solution that suits you perfectly!

[u/nainballs]

Personally I think if someone is already intimate with you to that point... they probably won't care much. Would you care about, say, a big scar on a woman's breast that you are being intimate with? Probably not right?

[u/Shlomosabich]

I chose not to get one. I thought I should get one for body image and mental health reasons but I ended up not getting it because I was discouraged by my doctor. I regret not getting it, but not enough to go back to surgery for it.

[u/Electronic-Mango19]

I have 2. Just did it on July 18th. It’s strange, because if u get kicked in the balls, it won’t really hurt all that much haha. If you do it, tell them not to stitch them in and just let them be free

The surgery to put them in is a small incision on the side of the scrotum. I honestly NEVER felt any pain or discomfort at the incision spot. Your balls won’t feel like “yours” for several weeks, though.

[u/danieldbird]

Won’t say if you should or shouldn’t. I got a prosthetic righty, and am feeling good about the decision personally. A part of my consciousness is not AS reminded about having cancer every time I wash myself or feel down there. I would most likely have gotten 2 if I needed it. Just me though. All the best man.